It is most convenient for us to plug in electric blankets, electric heater, electric frying pan, electric toothbrushes, radio, chargers for phones and also use the microwave. It seems to me that the wiring in our 2001 TC would not have been designed to anticipate this use. Whenever I wonder about a TC use issue..I just read this friendly forum and ask my "friends" for advice! Any experience or advice about electric overuse? Thanks, Ann

Don't do it all at the same time, for sure. You are likely to blow a fuse. You should carry spares. Locate the fuses and learn how to change one.But do you REALLY use all that stuff? I can't imagine that your toothbrushes and other chargers have to be plugged in all the time. And you could easily use a regular skillet on the stove instead of an electric skillet.

A 30AMP electrical setup is enough for most of us to use for these things. If you draw too much by having too many high wattage items being used at the same time the circuit breaker will trip...It all should be self protected in this manner...A 120V 30A setup should give you a total of 3600WATTS to use. Add up your appliancesGOOGLE SAYSRoy Ken

Just remember, 30 amp CB will not trip at 30 amps. I found that out when MY Progressive Industries panel said I was pulling 38 amps!! Granted, I would have tripped the CB eventually.Goodson Engineering wrote:The first (and most common) misconception is that a breaker trips when its nameplate rating is exceeded. One fire text has stated (incorrectly) that a circuit breaker will trip in several minutes with a small increase in current over its rating[1]. Actually, a 20 amp breaker must trip at a sustained current of 27 amperes (135 percent) at less than one hour, and at 40 amperes (200 percent of wire rating) in less than 120 seconds—far different from what the cited text implies. These two trip points (135 percent and 200 percent) are defined in NEMA Standard AB-1, MCCBs and Molded Case Switches[2]SOURCE: Goodson Engineering - Forensic Engineering * Fire Investigations

Constant use for a 30 amp service should be 80% of capacity or 24 amps.I chose to replace the "stab" connectors that were used in the outlets in my RV. I recommend that to anyone using high draw items (such as the electric fry pan).

pianotuna wrote:Constant use for a 30 amp service should be 80% of capacity or 24 amps.I chose to replace the "stab" connectors that were used in the outlets in my RV. I recommend that to anyone using high draw items (such as the electric fry pan).Stab connectors...meaning the plugs that's have the reset on all of them? My camper has these for every plug I think. Like the plugs in a residential bathroom? You replaced them all with these, or removed them and replaced them with something else?

Electric overuse? | Good Sam Community

getpower1
Explorer
Dec 01, 2015
pianotuna wrote:
The outlets should have screw terminals for the wire--not ones where the wire is poked into a hole.

Pull one out before buying a bunch of replacements.

The reset is a gfi connector.

getpower1 wrote:
Stab connectors...meaning the plugs that's have the reset on all of them?

Oh I know what you're talking about. I couldn't remember what the outlets were called for some reason this morning. Lack of coffee yet, I guess.
turtletalk
Explorer
Dec 01, 2015
thanks. We appreciate the time taken to consider our question and to answer.
David and Ann
Boatycall
Explorer
Dec 01, 2015
pianotuna wrote:
One of the best tools to carry is a kill-a-watt meter. That way you can measure every appliance to truly know the load it is presenting.

X2, I have one in the TC. Especially nice to know when you're boondocking relying on solar.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Dec 02, 2015
Boatycall wrote:
pianotuna wrote:
One of the best tools to carry is a kill-a-watt meter. That way you can measure every appliance to truly know the load it is presenting.

X2, I have one in the TC. Especially nice to know when you're boondocking relying on solar.

X3. Mine stays plugged into one of the outlets just to get a reading on the condition of the power coming from the pedestal or generator.

Just plug whatever appliance you're using into the kill-a-watt and set it to read Amps. If you have trouble remembering, put the Amps on a tag on the power cord near the plug as a reminder to not have too many things plugged in.

Your camper likely has at least two circuits, and it would be a good idea to identify which plug is on which circuit. Simply plug something like a lamp into each plug and turn off a circuit breaker at your power panel and see if the light goes off. Label each plug with the circuit number.

IMHO, try to keep total usage at 10-12 Amps at most per circuit.
turtletalk
Explorer
Dec 02, 2015
well, mkirsch, you just introduced another morning topic at our table..thanks. We will label outlets with circuit number and power cords with Amps.
billtex
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2015
turtletalk wrote:
It is most convenient for us to plug in electric blankets, electric heater, electric frying pan, electric toothbrushes, radio, chargers for phones and also use the microwave. It seems to me that the wiring in our 2001 TC would not have been designed to anticipate this use. Whenever I wonder about a TC use issue..I just read this friendly forum and ask my "friends" for advice! Any experience or advice about electric overuse? Thanks, Ann

Wealwayslieinbedwiththeelectricblanketonfryingchickenforbreakfastwhilebrushingourteethlisteningtotheradiowhiletalkingonthephoneaboutthepopcorninthemicrowave.

Isn’t this what everyone does while camping?
turtletalk
Explorer
Dec 02, 2015
what meter do you recommend?
mkirsch
Nomad II
Dec 03, 2015
The meter is literally called a "Kill-A-Watt Meter." If you can't find them anywhere else, look on Amazon.

It is very easy to use. Just plug it in, and plug whatever you want to read into the meter.

Forum Discussion

Electric overuse?

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Electric heating

Electric vehicles

Electric heaters

electrical

All electric vehicles?